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Dental Implants Overview

If one or more of your teeth are missing, then you may want to consider dental implants as an option to help improve the look and feel of your smile once again. Implants are a wonderful option for any patient who wants to have a permanent solution to any of their missing teeth.

Dental implants do not look like dentures or false teeth, which is why they are appealing to many patients. In fact, they are designed to blend in with your natural teeth and they provide you with the look and feel of natural teeth.

One of the reasons dental implants are often chosen over other options is because dentures are not permanent, and they can slip around or even fall out of place. Dental implants do not do this. Another reason individuals choose implants is because you can choose a single implant should you only be missing one tooth.

If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or you would like to have a consultation performed, contact the team at Thornton Town Center Family Dental. Our team of dentists are ready to work with you and help you find a solution that fits into your budget.

Dental Implant: What Does It Do?

A dental implant functions as an artificial root and is placed directly into your jaw bone to mimic one. The root itself is made from a titanium material, so you do not have to worry about your body being allergic to or rejecting the material. The implant itself is placed into your jawbone via a surgical procedure that is performed in our Thornton office.

Over time, the artificial root and jawbone will fuse together to create a firm and sturdy anchor for the root. At this time, the root will not move in place and is stuck. Once the gums and tissues are completely healed, an abutment is placed atop of the root and then a crown placed on the abutment.

You do have a variety of choices when it comes to your implant options and you can choose from a single implant, full mouth of implants, multiple implants, or even implant-supported dentures or bridges.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Most patients are good candidates for dental implants, but there are times when patients may not be a good candidate. Often times, to have the procedure performed, you may need supporting procedures handled first such as the extraction of all teeth or maybe a sinus lift or bone graft, if there is not enough bone in the jaw.

Any underlying problem within the mouth will need to be corrected BEFORE the implant surgery begins. This may set back your treatment schedule, but it does not mean that you cannot have the treatment performed. One of the most common situations that occurs is patients often have to have gum disease treated BEFORE they can have implants placed in their mouth.

If you would like to learn more about your situation and whether or not you are a good candidate for dental implants, call Thornton Town Center Family Dental. We will take x-rays and look over your mouth to ensure that implants are the best option for you. Our dentists are prepared to offer you solutions to any problem that you may face when it comes to your oral health.

Sinus Lift: What Is It?

We mentioned above that you may need to have a sinus lift performed, but if you do not know what this is, we will explain it briefly for you. This is a procedure that occurs when there is too little bone within the upper part of your jawbone. Within your upper jaw, there is a small area that is called the maxillary sinus and depending on where the pocket is, you may find that you do not have enough bone.

If your bone sits too low, then our dentists are able to go in and perform a sinus lift, which will lift up the sinus membrane to allow for more room to add bone. Once the sinus lift is completed, you will have bone grafted into the area.

There is a healing process that comes along with the procedure and you can expect healing to take six months to a year before you can have dental implants placed in your jawbone.

Bone Graft: What Is It?

We also mentioned briefly above that you may need to have a bone graft performed. This procedure is similar to the sinus lift, but it handles your lower jaw and not the upper jaw. In this procedure, you do not have to have any membranes lifted and new bone is injected directly into the pockets where it is needed.

This procedure does have a high rate of success and is recommended for patients who want dental implants but lack the bone necessary for it to happen.

During a bone graft procedure, your gums are cut open to access the bone and then the bone itself is placed into your mouth. The gums will be sutured once done and healing time can take anywhere from six months to a year as well.

Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant surgical procedure may sound scary to you, but it is actually quite routine in nature. Some patients experience minimal discomfort, but that can be managed with the help of one of the dentists at Thornton Town Center Family Dental.

The procedure involved drilling into your jawbone while using a surgical guide. Once the hole is drilled, sterile implants are placed into the holes and the gums will be stitched back together.

Contact Thornton Town Center Family Dental Today

If you would like to learn more about whether or not you are a good candidate for dental implants, now is the time to call Thornton Town Center Family Dental. Our dentists are here to assist you and we have been named the best dental implant center in all of Thornton. Call us today.

Reviews

We Appreciate All of Our Thornton Patients!

Thornton Town Center Family Dental would not be as successful without the support from all of our patients. We are proud to be able to serve the local area and thank you for all of the referrals you have sent our way! Below, you will find some of our recent reviews from Thornton patients!

Zoey Wright

I had a million questions that I wanted to ask and they did an awesome job and answering every single one. And the staff do an awesome job at making me feel comfortable while they work on my teeth!

1 month ago

Michael L.

ALL the Doctors and staff are extremely nice and very professional. The office is very clean and modern. They have all the latest technology and every one seems very skilled at what they do. I recommend this place for anyone who needs good and honest Dentist!

3 months ago

Joshua M.

The doctors here are professional and super friendly. They have a willingness to help and cater to thier patients needs. Visits are very quick, so scheduling is hassle-free aswell. Would we not be moving out of state, my wife and I would love to make Thornton our forever dentist